WSOP | Tournaments | Event Updates
Auto Refresh Rate:
Competition:
GO

2012 World Series of Poker Europe

Tuesday, October 02, 2012 to Thursday, October 04, 2012

Majestic Super High Roller - €51,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Rebuy)

  • Buy-in: €51,000
  • Prizepool: €2,880,000
  • Entries: 60
  • Remaining: 0

EVENT UPDATES

view updates for day:
Thursday, October 4, 2012 11:02 PM Local Time

Champion MIke Watson!

And that's a wrap here at the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe for the €50,000 Majestic High Roller. Emerging victorious from the 60-entry field is Mike Watson for a cool €1 million!

This field attracted 49 players with 11 rebuys being added to the prize pool. A buy-in of €50,000 was required for each entry, and a prize pool of €2.88 million was generated. With the top eight spots set to pay out, Day 3 was not only going to see a winner crowned, but also the bubble burst.

Nine players came back for Day 3, but unfortunately for Winfred Yu, he would be the last one leaving empty-handed. On his final hand, Yu lost with pocket eights versus Philipp Gruissem's    thanks to a ten on the river. With the final eight all guaranteed at least €115,000, it was time for eliminated players to hit the payout desk.

First to go was David Benefield, then Steve O'Dwyer, Jani Sointula and Tobias Reinkemeier in that order. After Reinkemeier headed out the door, fellow German Gruissem hit the rail before play continued for a little bit longer three-handed and the players went on a 75-minute dinner break. At the break, Watson held the chip lead with John Juanda in second place and Richard Yong in third.

The food must have had some extra spice in it for Yong as he came back from dinner in a fury. Within a few hands, Yong had the chip lead and was mashing away. But then, he picked up ace-king on back-to-back hands and doubled up both of his opponents, one after another; first Watson, then Juanda. That left Yong as the short stack once again and he was bounced from the tournament shortly thereafter.

When heads-up play began, Juanda had 4.83 million in chips to Watson's 4.17, making things fairly close. Juanda inched out at first, but then a massive collision of stacks occurred. Juanda held the    versus Watson's dominated   , but a jack on the turn gave Watson just the ingredient he needed for the double up. With that pot, Watson took a huge lead and knocked Juanda to under ten big blinds. Things didn't last long from there.

On the final hand, Watson put Juanda all in with the   , and Juanda called with the   . The flop, turn and river ran out       and Watson had done it. He secured the victory while Juanda was left with a not-so-shabby payday of €600,000 for second place.

Final Table Payouts

PlaceNameCountryPrize
1Mike WatsonCanada€1,000,000
2John JuandaUSA€600,000
3Richard YongMalaysia€400,000
4Philipp GruissemGermany€275,000
5Tobias ReinkemeierGermany€200,000
6Jani SointulaFinland€160,000
7Steve O'DwyerUSA€130,000
8David BenefieldUSA€115,000

That wraps up the PokerNews coverage from this Majestic High Roller, but there's plenty of action still going on here in Cannes with the Main Event. Be sure to check out the WSOP Europe Main EVent coverage here.

Thursday, October 4, 2012 10:36 PM Local Time

John Juanda - 2nd Place

Mike Watson put John Juanda all in from the button, and the latter called after looking at his hole cards.

Showdown:
Mike Watson:   
John Juanda:   

The board ran out      , and John Juanda was eliminated! Mike Watson claimed the title and the €1,000,000 first-place prize!

Mike Watson9,000,0001,170,000
John Juanda0-1,170,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 10:33 PM Local Time

On the button, Mike Watson raised to 240,000 before John Juanda reraised to 750,000. Watson tanked for a minute or two, then reraised all in. Juanda perked up and called holding the   . Watson was behind and dominated with the   .

The flop came down     to keep Juanda in front. Watson didn't find much help, but did pick up one club to give him runner-runner flush options.

The turn was the   and just what Watson ordered as he came from behind to pair his jack. The river completed the board with the   and that was it.

Watson was all in for 3.9 million at the final count of his chips, and he doubled to a massive chip lead. Juanda was left with under ten big blinds.

Mike Watson7,830,0003,850,000
John Juanda1,170,000-3,850,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 10:27 PM Local Time

Mike Watson raised to 240,000 and John Juanda called from the big blind. The flop came down     and both players checked.

On the turn the   hit and Juanda bet 240,000. Watson called, and the river was the  . Both players checked again and Juanda showed   . Watson tabled his   , and he took down the pot.

Juanda is still up since the start of the heads-up match, but Watson has regained some grip.

John Juanda5,020,000190,000
Mike Watson3,980,000-190,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 10:14 PM Local Time

"We don't have Jason [Mercier] getting in the way this time," said Mike Watson to John Juanda. Juanda laughed.

What Watson was citing was the fact that Watson took third in the 2008 European Poker Tour London £20,000 High Roller behind Juanda, who placed second, and the winner Mercier.

Playtika - Jason Alexander
Thursday, October 4, 2012 10:09 PM Local Time
John Juanda4,830,000830,000
Mike Watson4,170,000-650,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 10:08 PM Local Time

Richard Yong - 3rd Place

After Mike Watson folded from the button, Richard Yong raised all in from the small blind for 385,000.

"Sh*t, this is a really bad hand," said John Juanda when he looked at his cards. "How much more is it?"

Juanda got the count of how much more, then said, "I guess I have to," and tossed in the call.

Juanda held the    and was up against the    for Yong.

On the flop, the     fell, and Juanda added a pair of jacks. Yong wasn't out of it yet, as he picked up a straight draw.

The turn brought the  , which left Yong needing just a nine on the river to double up. One last burn card, then the   landed and officially eliminated Yong in third place. He earned €400,000 for his finish while Watson and Juanda were left to battle for the title.

Richard Yong0-400,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 10:04 PM Local Time

On a     flop Richard Yong checked. John Juanda was on the button and he moved all in. It took Yong five seconds to make up his mind, and he made the call.

Showdown:
John Juanda:   
Richard Yong:   

On the turn the   hit, and Juanda took the lead. The river was the  , and Juanda doubled up. Yong was left behind with very little chips.

John Juanda4,000,0001,640,000
Richard Yong400,000-1,500,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:52 PM Local Time
Level: 24
Blinds: 60000/120000
Ante: 15000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:51 PM Local Time

John Juanda

After Richard Yong raised on the button to 160,000, John Juanda reraised all in for 1.125 million from the small blind. Mike Watson folded from the big blind, then Yong called with the   . Juanda held the   .

The flop, turn and river ran out in Juanda's favor as the       came, and Juanda doubled.

John Juanda2,360,0001,280,000
Richard Yong1,900,000-1,200,000
Gorilla Gaming
Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:49 PM Local Time

Mike Watson

Mike Watson raised to 160,000 from the small blind and Richard Yong decided to move all in. Watson gave it some thought, but eventually he made the call.

Showdown:
Mike Watson:   
Richard Yong:   

The board ran out      , and due to a lucky jack Watson doubled up. He's now back in the lead while Juanda keeps getting shorter.

Mike Watson4,820,0002,470,000
Richard Yong3,100,000-1,980,000
John Juanda1,080,000-490,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:46 PM Local Time

"You think I care about 200K?" said John Juanda to the rail of spectators, which consists all of Richard Yong's clan, citing the pay jump between third and second from €400,000 to €600,000. "I want to win."

Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:44 PM Local Time

"Dinner was lucky for me," said Richard Yong after scooping a recent pot. Since dinner, Yong has stormed to the chip lead and doesn't seem to be looking back.

Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:36 PM Local Time

After a series of small pots Yong managed to pick up some more chips, and he's got more than his two opponents have combined.

Richard Yong5,080,00080,000
Mike Watson2,350,000-50,000
John Juanda1,570,000-30,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:33 PM Local Time

A raise to 160,000 came from Richard Yong on the button before action folded to Mike Watson in the big blind. He called, and the dealer spread out the     flop. After Watson checked, Yong fired 180,000. Watson called.

The   was added to the board on the turn, and Watson checked again. Yong didn't pull up, and he fired a bet of 270,000. Watson folded, and Yong won the pot to move to five million in chips.

Richard Yong5,000,000600,000
Mike Watson2,400,000-400,000
Playtika - Jason Alexander
Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:31 PM Local Time

From the button, Mike Watson raised to 160,000. John Juanda called from the big blind to see a flop of    . Juanda checked, and Watson tossed forward 180,000. Juanda made the call.

The   paired the board on the turn and added a third diamond. Juanda fired 300,000 into Watson, and Watson made the call.

On the river, a fourth diamond hit the felt when the   landed. Juanda slowed down with a check, but Watson wasn't about to give a free showdown. He fired 725,000. Juanda folded immediately after Watson's bet crossed the line, and Watson won the pot.

Mike Watson2,800,000750,000
John Juanda1,600,000-950,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:27 PM Local Time

From the button, John Juanda raised to 160,000. Richard Yong called from the big blind, and the flop came down    . Yong checked, and Juanda fired 175,000. Yong called.

On the turn, the   landed. Both players checked to see the   land on the river, and then they both checked again.

Yong turned over the    for two pair, jacks and tens, and he won the pot. Juanda mucked.

Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:15 PM Local Time

Mike Watson raised to 160,000 from the button and Richard Yong three-bet to to 480,000 from the small blind. John Juanda tanked for about 45 seconds before releasing his hand. Watson folded as well after which Yong showed the  .

"Lucky three," Yong said as he received another round of applaus.

Richard Yong4,400,000360,000
John Juanda2,550,000-150,000
Mike Watson2,050,000-215,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:07 PM Local Time

Mike Watson raised to 160,000 from the button, but that wasn't enough. Richard Yong three-bet to 440,000 and both John Juanda and Watson folded.

On the very next hand Watson limped from the small blind, and Yong checked in the big. On a       flop both players checked and Yong took down the pot with   .

Richard Yong4,040,000240,000
Mike Watson2,265,000-240,000
Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:03 PM Local Time

Richard Yong

Richard Yong is not looking to take it easy after the dinner break, and he just put a lot of pressure on John Juanda. Yong limped from the small blind and Juanda checked.

The flop came down     and Yong bet 125,000. Juanda raised to 360,000 and Yong moved all in. Juanda folded after about ten seconds and once again Yong's rail cheered on their friend.

Richard Yong3,800,000380,000
John Juanda2,700,000-365,000
Gorilla Gaming
1